Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-02-17
rs We dismOnnIed.

out Tor the general security.
Luminous CLEANS radiated from the
splendid wings OF these birds-wings
that seemed 10 clothe them rs with
mantles of purple, upon which the sun
light played and flashed. The crimson
CLEANS shifted and varied with tho
6illowy walk Of the birds-an oscillat-
ing gait, like that of sailors who have
become so accustomed to the pitching
and tossing OF the sea that they walk
like sloop rocking on the waves. The
pink pumagc of their necks and breasts
make II delightful contrast with the
tlame-color OF The background. 1t
seemed like Il flock of birds swimming
in sea of fire.
All! how dull and sombrc then seemed
to us the colors of those other flamin-
goes which people the Bouches-du-
Rhonc, and which we used to admire so
much us children, when we were In-
dulgcd with walk to the pools of La
| CamarguG.
Their order was admirable; their de-
pertinent correct rs possible.
With heads uplifted, beaks all for
ward, eyes fixed alta distance of fifty
PAGES before them, all marched in line;
not one head or body protruded before
the rest; all the wings touched like so
many elbows; they marched in close
rank like those old grenadiers who used
to delight the Parisians on review days,
at time when the bear-skin caps were
still popular.
What sight for drill master!
What fine example to cite for those
conscripts who, even after six months
training, will still persist in starting off
right foot first!
The llamingoes steadily advanced
break in an array that would have done
credit to .Prussian regiment. They
marched straight upon the flame-color-
ed mass which we had already OBJ
served upon our left.
Then suddenly that crimson mass,
previously immobile, took motion, be-
came animated; and several thousands
of other flamingoes stood upright upon
their long stilt-llke legs. AS they did
so we caught sight of what we had not
perceived before - an innumerable
quantity of black points standing out in
relief against the white of the salt.
These little black cones were their
nests-the flamingoes were Matching.
At the approach of the troop they
rose. and, with gait as grave and dig
nified as that of their comrades, formed
rank beside them. The latter then en-
tered the curious village, or settlement.
formed of little elevations of earth
thrown up in the form of cones, with
truncated SUBMITS followed out con-
cavely for the eggs. Tho birds sit down
to hatch very gravely, astraddle of the
cones.
The ceremony we had been looking
at was that of relieving guard.
A new troop formed in rank, and pro-
ceeded to the watering place by the
same route which the others had left it.
In their turn the tlamingoes entered the
fresh-water lake to feed upon the tiny
aquatic nrooturos which inhahit if.
But what is the matter with our
horses? We can scarcely control them;
they prick their ears, snort, shudder.
tremble on their legs. Evidently some
thing unusual is going on.
Is il possible they are afraid of the
fiamingocs whose serried ranks are fl
ing byP
Look to your gunsr' orders the
guacho.
The same moment that the guachoes
jump to catch the heads of our horses
we cock our guns. We are ready. In
stinctively we had retired from the
neighborhood of the reeds. Suddenly
we hear long sound, as of trumpets
blowing. 1t is the signal of alarm ut
tered by the hamingo sentinels. At
once the troop halts- wings are spread;
the birds are about to fly.
Too late!
As if launched from catapult q great
spotted body springs from the reeds and
falls upon the ranks of the birds, who,
thus taken by surprise, close their wings
again at the very moment they were
about to rise. ..,
IA jaguar!'' we all shout together.
1t was an enormous jaguar, too, that
had thus flung himself upon tho unbap-
py birds, who seemed absolutely para
! lyzed by the suddenness of this unex.
pected onset s
But now a thousand clamors ring
through the air above. AT first they
were cries of fear and alarm; but now
they are rallying cries, bug gle-cals,
sounding to arms Right and left and
everywhere IL thousand bugles are
sounding! What tumult, what tur-
moil, what II cacophonyp Far from
dreaming of flight, and fully recovered
from their first surprise, the long-legged
birds all close i'll upon their assailant,
whose jaws and talons disembowel,
crush, tear them in vain. What mat
ter! he will never carry off his prey.
Are they not 5000! Ten fall; fifty rush
to take their places. ..... ~. .....
There is u terrible carnage.
But all the prodigious leaps of the
jaguar cannot now bear him out of the
circle into which he has been skillfully
hemmed by the admirable tactics of his
enemies. They have closed him in;
and, with their hard, black, conical
beaks, solid as steel, they keep piercing
his fanks and sides. He thought be
was about to secure an easy prey; he is
already compelled to fight as hard as
he knows how for his life. All about
the feline, victims whirl in air-like inn
mense shuttlecocks fall lfeless upon
a heap Of corpses. 1T
All! the brave brds!-how courageous
they arel .,.. '.r
Every beak-stroke goes right through
the hide OF the jaguar, and is followed